- THE NEW PROGRAM “RESTARTING” (2014-2020)

Our Ministry of Development had already announced the main areas of support of the new Business and Growth Program "RESTARTING" 2014-2020. This program will be implemented during the new 2014-2020 programming period, managed by the Ministry of Development and Competitiveness. The new program has resources of over € 5.5 billion, in specific sectors. More specifically:

1. TOURISM SECTOR: In this sector the program will provide investment plans that improve competitiveness in five specific areas of tourism (congress, medical-medicinal, cultural, marine, center). Also will provide investments in Tourism Promotion areas, in Training and education and in employment amplification.
2. AGRO-FOOD SECTOR: Priority actions will be enhanced products competitive advantage particularly unique features that gives them the biodiversity of Greece (Milk, Cheese, Olive - Oil, Wine, Meat). It will be enhance the openness of firms in the sector to increase exports of branded and certified products at the expense of exports of bulk products. would also reinforced: Actions to promote agro-food products in existing and new markets, actions promoting products through aid service logistics, as well as actions to support research centers, institutes and laboratories for safety and improve food quality.
3. SUPPLY CHAIN SECTOR​​: In this sector the program will provide investment plans that improving infrastructure, improving accessibility, promoting openness in the industry and attracting international trade agreements / partnerships with infrastructure development log-organization, in connection to promote the industry through the adoption of value added services aimed at internationalization. 
4. ENVIRONMENT SECTOR: In this sector the program will provide investment plans to manage waste-recycling-minimize production, reducing the impact of its activities on the environment and increasing resource efficiency, application methods clean technology and end actions that will enhance the certification business.
5. HEALTH AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY SECTOR: In this sector the program will provide investment plans related to Human Resources training, certifications businesses, the use of new technologies in production, the openness, the restructuring of the institutional framework to facilitate entrepreneurial initiative
6. ENERGY SECTOR: In this sector the program will provide investment plans related to energy upgrade the existing building stock, energy upgrade homes, public buildings, commercial buildings, strengthen research and development of materials, technologies and systems to improve energy efficiency, improve energy efficiency of small and medium manufacturing businesses to reduce energy costs, support for Renewable Energy, the creation and growth of domestic entrepreneurship etc.
7. CONSTRUCTIONS AND MATERIAL SECTOR: In this sector the program will provide investment plans for the recovery of waste and waste from agricultural and industrial production, recycling and recovery of agricultural plastic waste, strengthening the establishment and operation of certified construction waste management units, to promote cooperation between undertakings additional industry products, protection, restoration of monuments and historic structures and modern building, strengthening of market surveillance, certification infrastructure, openness and export services, etc.,
8. INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES SECTOR: In this sector the program will provide investment plans related to the development / evolution of the market for digital services, strengthening entrepreneurship around the provision of integrated services digital cloud, incentives for new SMEs using business IT solutions in the cloud, incentives for existing small businesses to switch to informative business solutions in the cloud, enhancing entrepreneurship around the development of applications that can be made available in the cloud (SaaS), specialization ICT executives on specific technologies, commercial product development technology
9. CREATIVE - CULTURAL INDUSTRIES SECTOR: The program provides plans related to the effects of the economic crisis, or to support the internationalization of business. Also plans in advertising and promotion of Greek products and services, and specifically the Greek Brands in the International Market, information about adaptation to conditions of international competition (market trends, consumer behavior), corporate restructuring, enhancing the development of restructuring plans and adaptation plans to improve the quality of products and services, increasing the total value added

Our executives are ready to inform you about all possibilities to financing from this program.

- PROPOSALS - NEW EUROPEAN PROGRAM / FRAMEWORK   “HORIZON 2020”

Already been announced the first calls from the European Program - Framework for funding research and innovation actions called HORIZON 2020. This new program is going to fund research and innovation in period 2014 - 2020 with total budget € 80 billion and is the largest ever program has been launched. The main purpose of this Program is to integrate scientific data products and services based on innovation. The main axes of the program is the promotion of Europe and the countries that the leader of disciplines (Excellent Science), securing industrial leadership in innovation (Industrial Leadership) and addressing societal challenges (Societal Challenges).

First priorities for the Years 2014-2015 is to focus on twelve (12) research areas to be funded. The basic of the areas are: personalized healthcare, transportation, "green" energy, digital security, information technology and communications and "smart" cities. First calls for 2014-2015 include a budget of 500 million specifically for SmE’s. The program implementation is to be carried out using procedures that do not require special paperwork in relation to that we used in the past, so they are more attractive to attract interested. A key feature of the implementation is to create a single flat rate for indirect costs (25% of direct costs) and two levels of funding for a survey (funded 100%) and one for activities relating to the market (70% funded).

Calls are open from the December 2013, with key features: a) each project has a specified percentage of all funding bodies. B) For innovation projects the rate will be 70% and for research projects the rate will be 100%. C) Is there a specific rate for indirect costs (overheads) which is 25% of direct costs (excluding subcontracting, third parties expenses and financial aid third parties). D) There is a significant decrease in time to sign a contract longer defined five months (from submission to-earnings) plus three months (from announcement of results by signing the Contract).

For SMEs introducing new financial instruments for SMEs, providing support in three phases: Initial feasibility study (aid lump 50.000 €), Development of innovative products / services (grant 70% of costs), access to other funding sources (eg example, VCs, loans from the European Investment Bank, etc.). More details of funding in three phases will be as follows: Phase 1 (Feasibility Phase) in which an assessment of the technological and commercial potential of a project / idea. Then, examine the viability of the idea, the risks assessed, the status of copyright, partner search, the design of the study, the intention piloting the idea, the business plan idea. Phase 2: (main funding) which will be given to SMEs to undertake research and development, focusing on demonstrating the product / service and reproduce the market (market replication). Emphasis will be on development, prototyping, testing, piloting innovative processes, products and services, the design of products / services, design and development of the idea of ​​scaling (segments, processes, etc.). Phase 3 (Phase trading): SMEs will be supported indirectly through simplified access to capital and equity financial instruments (VCs, Business Angels, etc.). For the evaluation of proposals will take into account three criteria: the soundness of the proposal, its impact and the quality and efficiency of implementation.